I replaced a 6×6 pt post on a trellis built one year ago. There were massive cracks and twisting, etc.
More of a concern to me was the state of corrosion that the GRK fasteners were in. The “climatek” coating was gone and the alloy was already corroding!
Has anyone else noticed this? I really like the convenience and strength of the fastener, but if this is what happens in pt, i might have to go back to galv lags.
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Replies
<state of corrosion that the GRK fasteners were in>
Oh #### - don't tell Piffin!
He's like, their major shill! we don't want HIM having a crisis of confidence!
Forrest
the time to stop using ACQ/PT arrived a long time ago....
people are gonna die...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Isn't it about time for the deck collapsing to start? Fasteners have gotta be getting ate up by now in that stuff.
Nah, they burn them down deep-frying turkeys before they fall down.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
Timberframe techniques need to be adapted to decking.
be down with the screw
I'm about convinced to use sealed, NON-pressure-treated on any outdoor project. This fastener/hardware corrosion is plain scary.
Troy Sprout
"A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should also have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."
-- George Washington
That's why I don't trust anything but SS in PT.
More $$ but peace of mind. Clients don't complain once the situation is explained, maybe I'm lucky but a rational discussion before the project has always "sold" the additional expense of SS fasteners.
Universal Forest Products, Inc. is selling something called "Pro Wood Micro" through the local HD - not at any of the local pro yards (yet?). This is a PT, SYP product. Treated with Copper Quat. Their website claims corrosion rates for steel (brights) which falls between KD and CCA. This makes HD galvanized fasteners a viable alternative to SS. They post a number of corrosion tests and compare rates in KD, Pro Wood Micro, CCA and ACQ. I'm going to start my own little corrosion test.
I love GRK screws, but use their SS product line in outdoor PT.
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
Edited to correct manufacturer's name - I had ""Forestry" rather than "Forest".
Edited 8/31/2007 9:01 am ET by JTC1
<I had ""Forestry" rather than "Forest".>
Yeah, you wanna' get that right -
Forrest
Jim,Your post is timely, as I await a return call from salesman for $1K of GRK stainless fasteners for exterior service, much of it into ACQ'd wood. Your experience supports my initial prejudice that Climatek coating is no match for the corroding power of ACQ. Thanks.Bill
I didn't realize you were looking at ACQ for your project. Definitely the SS GRKs!
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Thanks for all your input guys. I suspected that stainless was the direction I needed to start heading.
My fear; Over the last five or so years we have almost exclusively used GRK's for fastening posts to outside framing of decks. Can't wait for the recall work on that!
I will be taking back the GRK's I removed yesterday to our supplier and see if they have had any feedback as well.
For thazt sort of application, you should not be using screws of any kind anyways. That is a design location that would require bolts, not screws.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
you need the stainless steel GRKs
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
time to use other than ACQ....Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
oK - stupid question - whats GRK stand for?
another note - I have a piece of aluminum I took off an ACQ 4 x 4 that all but turned to dust. holes in it and everything. only 1 1/2 yrs old. Glad I haven't don a lot of work with ACQ lumber. I don't sleep much as it is.
"it aint the work I mind,
It's the feeling of falling further behind."
Bozini Latini
oK - stupid question - whats GRK stand for?
Green River Killer.
GRK is a brand of high quality screws. buic
http://www.grkfasteners.com/
Edited 9/1/2007 7:57 am ET by BUIC
--"I have a piece of aluminum I took off an ACQ 4 x 4 that all but turned to dust. holes in it and everything."What you have there is galvanic corrosion (corrosion of dissimilar metals--actually resulting from a miniscule flow of electricity between the metals when wet). Aluminum is bad in combination with the Copper in ACQ (same issue as common steel and ACQ).The best flashing choice for ACQ is Copper.Also, get your hands on some GRK screws and I bet you will like them, good stuff.
I think I will try the GRK screws, I like star drive's in general."it aint the work I mind,
It's the feeling of falling further behind."Bozini Latini
It is the sound they make just before they snap, hear that sound, let off the trigger.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"